Cold Weather Safety

Cold weather safety – Working in a cold environment is difficult and has many potential problems, normally a cold environment in the workplace could be a freezer, or server room, but during the winter outdoor workers will also experience some very cold, and potentially hazardous.  It could be the average temperature for the area, the altitude or an unforeseen consequence of getting wet and tired in a comfortable climate.

Cold weather as a hazard is difficult to define as it depends upon personal experiences, your local climate, whether or not you are acclimatised, but generally speaking it is whenever the conditions are cold enough to potentially threaten your health.  The danger is not only from the ambient temperature but also the wind chill effect, rain, the condition of the workers, etc.

How do I plan cold weather work?

There are several considerations when placing workers in a cold environment.  These include:

•    The training and experience of all team members

•    Selection of clothing and equipment

•    Knowing the local weather forecast is coming

•    Workers not doing more than they are capable of doing, ie taking more frequent breaks

•    Workers diet, when working in a cold environment more calories will be used to keep the body warm, therefore it is essential that workers regularly top up energy levels with frequent snacks.

•    Dehydration can also be a risk, as protective clothing could lead to sweating during arduous work, potentially doubling the required daily water intake.

Whilst not an exhaustive list, these are just some of the areas where control measures should be in place. If you are concerned about working outside during bad weather conditions, give us a call on 01509 550023